Side break disconnecting switch



Nov. 24, 1953 H. R. HARRISON SIDE BREAK DISCONNECTING SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 13, 1951 o Z W 2 a i & .MHIIIL 9 lh hd 3 511.9 1 Ln "2 w, 1 2 4 mw hmw M Ill 2 u 3 L. n 1 m. kr-

" Invento I Howard R. HaPTison,

9 Hi8 Attorneg.

Nov. 24, 1953 H. R. HARRISON SIDE BREAK DISCONNEICTING SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 13, 1951 Inventor: Pd R. Harrisofi,

Howa

' His Attovney- Patentecl Nov. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES SIDE BREAK DISCONNECTING SWITCH New York Application August 13, 1951, Serial No. 241,578

10 Claims.

The invention relates to circuit disconnecting switches and the principal object is to provide an improved form of side break rotatable blade disconnecting switch mechanism particularly suitable for separate or gang operation in outdoor high voltage power circuit disconnecting service where severe icing conditions may be encountered.

In such service, it is the usual practice to mount the static-nary contacts and the rotatable blade of each disconnecting switch on separate high voltage pin type insulators with the supporting pin of the blade insulator rotatably mounted so as to form an overhung pivot for rotatably supporting the insulator and the rotatable switch blade carried on the remote end thereof. In this way the blade operating mechanism can be connected with the rotatable pin so as to be eilectively insulated from the high voltage Switchblade. But under severe icing conditions the accumulation of ice on the switch blade as well as on the line conductor connected to the blade may become quite large and cause sagging of the conductor and appreciable blocking of the switch operating parts with resultant chances of misalignment of the blade as well as the insulator axis by the extra operating force required to close or open the switch. Also, where large power currents are involved, such a switch construction ordinarily requires a somewhat exposed flexible braided current conducting connector between the rotating switch blade and the terminal for the stationary line conductor that is to be connected with the rotatable blade and such flexible o0nmotor is subject to deterioration from flexing also to ice blocking dificulties.

Hence, another object is to reduce such diffioulties by providing an improved line connection terminal having an enclosing hub and a series of anti-iriction rotating current conducting balls housed in races inside the enclosing hub to cooperate with improved coaxial conducting spindle provided at the pivot end of the rotatable blade for transferring current between the blade and the relatively stationary line connection terminal as well as supporting the stationary terminal on the same rotatable high voltage insulator as the blade.

With the improved construction of the present invention the ice blocking difiiculties are mar terially reduced by practically totally enclosing the mproved current conducting terminal mounting spindle that extends coaxial with the of the rotatable pin insulator carrying the switch blade and is electrically and mechanically other connected to rotate with the blade. The improved line connection terminal is provided with an enclosing hub for coaxial nesting in spaced apart relation with the conducting mounting spindle and the enclosed series of anti-friction conducting balls having an inclined race on the inside of the hub of the connection terminal and a coaxial race on the conducting mounting spindle insure effective current conduction therebetween almost indefinitely with minimum friction and strain upon rotation of the blade even under severe icing conditions. Another series of anti-friction guiding balls preferably are arranged to be spring pressed against an oppositely inclined race inside the annular hub of the connection terminal pad and a guide pin extension of the conducting spindle so as to maintain coalignment thereof as well as axially bias the hub relative to the conducting spindle and thereby maintain a proper contact pressure between the current conducting balls and the races therefor in each angular position of the blade.

Another object is to provide for both limited longitudinal and transverse self-adjustment of a contact tip at the disconnect end of the rotatable switch blade upon engagement or disengagement with its cooperatingstationary contacts so as to insure more efiective closing and opening of the switch blade under icing conditions as well as more eliective current conducting engagement with the stationary contacts in case of any slight misalignment of the rotatable blade due either to inaccuracies in installation or to flexing or misalignment stresses produced under heavy ice loadings of the switch blade itself and of the line conductor connected therewith.

In accordance with the present invention this is accomplished by providing a relatively movable contact engaging tip for the blade with a yielding spring pressed ball and socket current conducting connection between the tip and the blade together with a lost motion stop for permitting limited universal self-adjustment therebetween in any direction required to loosen and break up any accumulated ice on the tip in opening and closing the switch. To cooperate with the universally self adjustable blade tip, a plurality of floating contact fingers are resiliently mounted for limited universal movement inside a stationary side break contact housing so as to engage the opposite sides of the blade up and produce a limited movement thereof in any direction required to establish effective current conduction between the blade tip and a stationary line conductor connection terminal that extends inside of the housing in endwise alignment with the blade tip. In this way both improved ice loosening and breaking 'acticn as well as compensation for any misalignment of the blade within a limited range in any direction may be obtained.

Further advantages provided by the improvements of the invention will appear in the following description of the accompanying drawing in which Fig. l is a perspective view of 2 poles of a three pole gang operated disconnecting switch of the outdoor, high-voltage insulator mounted type embodying the improvements of the present invention in a preferred form.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view, partly in section, of the pivot end of the tubular switch blade having an end clamp specially formed for mounting on the top of the rotatable pin type insulator and provided with the improved coaxial conducting spindle form of rotating ball line terminal mounting of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a top view of the switch elements shown in Fig. 2, partly in section to show the detailed construction of these parts.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view, partly in section, of the yielding ball and socket mounted tip at the disconnect end of the switch blade that provides limited relative movement of the tip for loosening and breaking ice as well as effecting self-adjusting current conducting engagement with the resiliently mounted cooperating floating contact fingers carried inside the side break Sta-- tionary enclosing housing.

Fig. 5 is a top view of the blade tip and its cooperating floating contact finger construction shown in Fig. 4 partly in section to show the de' tails of construction. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on the dashed line 6--8 in Fig. 4 showing the blade tip and its cooperating floating contact fingers in self-aligned spring pressed engagement inside the stationary side break enclosing housing.

As shown in the perspective view of Fig. 1, a three pole gang operated disconnecting switch can readily be made up of duplicate switch units it and H in the ouantities desired, each having a separate channel base [2 with the high voltage pin-type insulator i3 rotatably mounted thereon by means of suitable bearings for the insulator mounting pin 14. The stationary insulators it have their mounting pins fixed on channel [2 in spaced apart opposing alignment with the rotatable pins hi. As more clearly shown in the enlarged view of Fig. 2, the switch blade l5 carried on the rotatable insulator I3 preferably is of light weight tubular form although other forms may be used if desired and is provided with an end clamp H in the form of a split socket so that the blade is may be firmly clamped therein in good electrical conducting relation by means of the clamping studs It. The blade end clamp I! is provided with an integral mounting flange 28 that can be removably secured to the end cap 2! of the insulator !3 by means of the mounting studs 22 so as to rotate the blade It between its circuit controlling positions upon rotation of the insulator 13 through the agency of a suitable operating linkage 23 which may be actuated manually or motor operated as desired.

In order to conduct current to the rotatable switch blade it, an improved conducting spindle 24 is provided at the pivot end of blade Iii coaxial with the axis of insulator !3. While the conducting spindle 24 may, if desired, be made integral with the mounting flange 20. preferably it is sepaiii) rately formed and provided with a suitable mounting flange such that it may be clamped in good current conducting engagement with the flange by means of the mounting studs 22. The spindle M is provided with an external coaxial race 25 for seating a series of current conductin balls 25 and also with the guide pin 21 that extends the axis of spindle 24 in alignment with the axis of the rotatable insulator 13.

An improved form of line connection terminal is provided with an enclosing hub 32 for mounting in axial nesting relation with the spindle 24 and has the internal inclined race formed to axially nest with the coaxial race 25 in ball retaining relation with the series of currentconducting balls 26 in order to transfer current between the line connection terminal 323 and the switch blade [5 with a minimum of friction and wear over a long period of service. The hub is also provided with the oppositely inclined race 33 for engaging with another ser'es of guiding balls 35 having pressure exerted thereon by means of the floating collar 35 that is biased axially of the guide pin 2'6 by the compression spring 3?. The spring 3'? is compressed by means of the collar 3& and the nuts 39 that are screwthreaded on the end of the guide pin 2?. Thus by having one end mounted on spindle 2d and the other end provided with ball bearing connections with hub 3i so as to form a resilient connection therebetween the force exerted by the compression spring 3? on the series of guiding balls biases the enclosing hub of the line connection terminal 3% to move axially relative to the guide pin 21 and thereby maintains the proper curren conducting contact pressure on the series of current-conducting balls 26 in each position of the rotatable switch blade it. At the same time, two spaced apart series of balls 2d and serve to maintain the enclosing hub 31 in coaxial alignment with the spindle 24 and thus support the line connection terminal on the rotatable insulator 53 as the rotatable switch blade It with a minimum friction and strain upon rotation oi the blade even under severe icing conditions. The enclosing hub 35 is provided with the removable top sealing dome 4| with the bottom sealing ring 42 so as practically to totally enclose the current-conducting spindle 24 and the current-conducting balls 2% thereby effectively protecting these parts from accumulation of dirt, moisture, or ice in outdoor service. In this way the present invention provides improved conducting paths for the current extending from the relatively stationary line connector terminal 33 through the series of conducting balls 26, the conducting spindle 24, flange Zii and end mounting socket 5'! directly to the rotatable switch blade I 5, and also insures that such improved conducting paths are maintained effective almost indefinitely under all weather condit Referring now to the enlar 4, 5, and 6, the disconnect end switch blade is flattened central bulge or dome for coopera concave seat 52 formed in the relatively mova flat bar blade tip so as to form a ball. a

movement of the tip relative to the b.-- in any direction. The concave seat of t I? is frictionally held in effective current-ccndu ing relation with the bulge or dome 5! by men of the relatively movable through bolt compression spring 55 mounted in cup :4. i

permit movement of the blade tip in any aaaaosr direction relative to the rotatable switch blade thesidebrea-k blade receiving lips ii on the oppoe it. As shown in 4 and stop screw site side, if desired, so. as to produce opening extends loosely through a transversely elongated and closing movements of the switch in an adslot in tip to into threaded engagement 2 jacent'quadrant.

the flattened end oi rotatable switch ole 5 Whenever the disconnecting switch blade it it so to limit the relative angular movement is opened under icing conditions suc that ice of the tip with respect to the blade. accumulates upon the exposed. one" g parts,

As shown in the sectional view the the limited angular movement of the up relastationary line connection terminal ill} for each tive to theblade lt-serves to provide an i1 creased disconnecting switch Ill .t is in the 01"" a leverage that is efi'ective to loosen and orealr. up flat bar mounted on the can 530i the fixedly any solid ice formations that may tonal to block mounted high voltage pi.n-type-insulatcr il shown the release of the blade tip from the housing in Fig. l by means of the mounting -,,et and the. resiliently mounted contact fins enclosed therein. The reverse liiniteti angular movement of the tip also assists when the switch blade is closed under icing col While- I have, in accordance v,"1 e patent statutes, shown and described my invention as applied to a particular system and as embody-- of the relatively move. is clad-e tip ing various devices diagrammatically indicated, site halves of the two p side hi housing #2: changes and modifications will obvious to those are held in interlock; relation by the mount skilled in the art, and I therefore e .1. in. the

ing bolt with outer ends of 1e compresappended claims. to cover all sov n ch nges sion springs and a cred on so: able modifications as fall within the true spirit and formed. inside the opposite halves of the two scope of my invention.

piece enclosing housing and the inner ends seated What I claim as new and desire to secure by in recesses formed. on. the contact and Letters Patent of the United States is:

These springs serve to the con est fill-- l. A circuit cli connecting switch having in into efiective current-committing relation combination a stationary switch contact provided with the opposite sides of both the line connec or with a connection terminal for one circuit conterrninal and the relatively movable blade tip ductor, a rotatahly-mounted switch. blade for and. thereby bias the tip to move into disengaging the stationary switch contact. a pair substantial enolw se ali nt 7 he conneeof relatively-rotatable conducting member havtion terminal in c any n g 'nnent ing axial nesting relation, the inner member blade that may be due to loading or means for mounting the member coaxprotiucerl icing conditions. lolly on the blade to rotate ewith and the As more clearly shown in the or tiona outer member having a connection terminal for view of l l 6 each oi the two I 1 ii r the other circuit conductor, a plurality of conhousing is provide Jith an oppos' n cti balls having coaxial races formed on taper d lip ll for guidin 'tl ebla e t through 0 aoiacent surfaces of the nesting conducting the s: ehreak ning into circi .t clos members in axial nesting ball retaining relawith the resiliently opposing tion for conducting current therebetween, and resilient means for axially biasing the outer nesting member toward the inner member to the strong biasing maintain current-conducting contact pressure on of the springs F39 it on opposing on the balls. pairs of contact fingers nd. EA will. apply suffi- A switch having in combination a rotatablythe oppo l:- niounteo. insulator, a switch blade mounted on tip to overcome the fl the insulator and provided with a current-conthe hall and socket co pressure spring ducting spindle coaxial with the innt of the p sulator. a connection terminal h ving ena d ection ne essary to any closing hub. in axial nesting re n with the gnrnent the blade iii may ex. onspindle, a plurality of conducting balls having seouently, t overall result to tend always to cooperating races on the spindl d the hub in on for roaxially nesting ball retaining r l I o relation tl fiat terrnl- U tatabiy support-mg the nub on toe splnole conducting current between the terminal and c nosite si to. reel. Duri i h blade and. means inclozling spring intera i' ning action, the side housi' serves connecting the spindle and the h for axially .teral fine. movement of the biasing the hub r lative to and. therently fingers in the plane maintaining current-conducting contact pres or movement of the blade tip a it enters the sure on the balls. housing and hence the tip to enter into 3. A circuit-clisconnecting swihaving in good conducting relation between the resiliently combination a high voltage in having a mounted contact fin ers to inside the rotatably-moimted supporting at one en housing The housing likewise serves to re thereof, a switch mounted on the other strict t e l t fl fl in nt 0f e end of the insulator for rotation therewith be tact fingers when the switch is opened. Endwis tween circuitmo-ntrolling positions, a ell-[Tenn movement of the contact fingers is restricted in nd m-i g spindle extending from th bl d similar way by the entl walls of the housing l substantially coaxially with the of the inthat is reniovahly mounted upon overhan s sulator supporting line connection termithe end of terminal connection bar Since nal pad provided with an enclosing hub in axial the housing contact fingers 65 and springs nesting relation with the spindle, means includform a subasseinlcly with connection bar it ing a plurality of conducting balls having comay be assembled on mounting bracket 6! with 75, operating races on the spindle and the hub in axial nesting ball retaining relation for con ducting current between the terminal pad and the blade and means including a compression spring surrounding the spindle and having one end mounted thereon and the other end provided with ball bearing connections with the hub and spindle for ma ntaining coaxial alignment thereof and for axially biasing the hub relative to the spindle for maintaining current conducting contact pressure between the balls and the races in each position of the blade.

l. A switch having in combination a rotatable pin type insulator, a tubular switch blade having a conducting end clamp provided with a flange for mountin on the insulator to rotate the blade betwee circuit-controlling positions and provided ll current-conducting spindle in coax al ali nment with the axis of the insulator, a line connection terrnln "-l pad having an enclosing hub in nestin elation with the spindle and pro; ed with inn spaced. apart oppositely inclined coaxial a plurality of conducting halls ha race on the spindle in axially nesting ball retaining relation with one of the incline-:1 rac s on the hub for conducting ourent t erebetv n, and a plurality of balls having ball i iing s," -ing means carried by the spindle to press he balls into engagement with the spindle the oppositely inclined race on the hub for maintaining axial alignment thereof while biasing the hub relative to the spindle to maintain current-conducting contact pressure on the conducting balls in each position of the blade.

5. a. circuit-disconnecting switch having in combination rotatably-mounted high voltage p n type insulator provided with an end a ch blade having a mounting member pro in ,d with a flange for mounting on the o the insulator to rotate the blade between "uit closing and a circuit opening position, conduct g socket mounted on the flange coaxally with the axis of the blade and provided. a co ial external ball race having a series of conducting balls therein, a guide pin fixed in the socket, line connection terminal pad having a hub for axial nesting with the guide pin provided with two oppositely-inclined internal ball races, one of said. races being formed for axial nesting in ball retaining relation with the balls in the external race formed on the socket conducting current between the blade and the and the other of said races having a second series of balls for engaging with the guide pin, a floating washer surrounding the spring means carried by the guide p' tor axially biasing the washer into en ager nt with the second series of balls and eby bias the hub axially relative to the pin for contact pressure on the first series of balls during the rotation of the blade to and from the circuit-closing position.

A switch having in combination a rotatable blade having a relatively-movable tip carried thereby and provided with ball and socl-zet mounting means including a spring for maintaining current-conducting pressure between the ball and. socket upon limited movement of the tip relative to the blade in any direction and it :3 frictions-11y holding the tip in the resulting position relative to the blade, and stationary contact means including opposing contact elements for contacting the opposite sides of the blade tip to eiiect a limited movement thereof relative to the blade in each direction upon corresponding misalignment of the blade with the opposing contact elements.

7. A switch having in combination a rotatablymounted pin-type insulator, a switch blade mounted on the end of the insulator, a relatively-movable blade tip provided with a ball and socket mounting for limited movement of the tip relative to the blade in any direction and having resilient means for maintaining currentconducting pressure between the ball and socket and. for frictionally holding the tip in the resulting position relative to the blade, and a separately-mounted pin-type insulator having stationary contact means mounted on the end thereof including a side break housing having opposing contact elements resiliently mounted therein for contacting opposite sides of the blade tip to effect a limited movement thereof relative to the blade in each direction upon corresponding misalignment of the blade tip with the 0pposing contact elements.

8. A switch having in combination a rotatablymounted blade having a fiat end, a relativelymovable flat tip mounted on the fiat end of the blade and provided with ball and socket mounting means including a spring for maintaining current conducting pressure between the ball and socket upon limited movement of the tip relative to the flat end of the blade in each direction and. for frictionally holding the tip in the resulting position relative to the blade, and stationary contact means including a fiat conductor having opposing pairs of resiliently-mounted floating contact fingers engaging the opposite sides of the conductor and extending from the end thereof for contacting the opposite sides of the tip to eiieet a limited movement thereof relative to the blade in each direction to substantially align the fiat tip in endwise current-com ducting relation with the flat conductor through the floating fingers contacting the opposite side thereof.

9. A switch having in combination a switch *lade rotatably mounted at one end, a relativelymovable tip mounted on the other end of the blade provided with ball and socket mounting means including a spring for maintaining current conducting pressure between the ball and socket upon limited movement of the tip relative to the blade in each direction and for frictionally holding the tip in the resulting position relative to the blade, and stationary contact means including a fiat conductor bar having a restricted side open housing overhanging one end thereof and provided with opposing pairs of resiliently-rnountecl contact fingers for contacting the opposite sides of the flat blade tip to effect a limited movement thereof relative to the blade in a direction to substantially align the flat tip in endwise current-conducting relation with the flat conductor bar through the opposing fingers contacting the opposite sides thereof inside the housing.

10. A switch having in combination a pair of pin-type insulators having mounting pins in spaced-apart substantially-opposing alignment, means for rotatably mounting the mounting pin of one of the insulators, a switch blade mounted on the end of the rotatable insulator and provided with a conducting spindle substantially coaxial with the axis of the insulator, a line connection terminal having a hub mounted on and enclosing the spindle, means including a series of conducting balls having cooperating races on the spindle and the hub for conducting current 9 from the terminal to the blade while maintaining the hub substantially coaxial with the axis of the spindle and insulator, a relatively-movable fiat tip extending from the end of the blade and provided with ball and socket mounting means including a spring; for maintaining current conducting pressure between the ball and socket upon limited movement of the tip relative to the blade in each direction and for frictionally holding the tip in the resulting position 10 relative to the blade and a fiat terminal bar mounted on the end of the other insulator and provided with opposing resiliently-mounted contact elements for engaging opposite sides of the terminal bar and the blade tip to effect a limited 15 l0 movement of the tip relative to the blade in each direction upon corresponding misalignment of the fiat tip with the fiat bar.

HOWARD R. HARRISON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,691,837 Beattie Nov. 13, 1928 1,720,860 Smythe -1 July 16, 1929 1,851,271 Alsaker Mar. 29, 1 32 2,227,925 Cornell et a1 Jan. '7, 1941 2,359,055 Sehwager et a1. Sept. 26, 1944 

